Amazing ancient animals

Claire Eamer explains evolutionary concepts in a highly entertaining, engaging way in these amazing books. They provide a fascinating look at the appearance and development of a variety of species on Earth. The second book empathizes the importance of water for all forms of life. Little-known fun facts and attractive pictures demonstrate to readers just how awesome nature can be. 

Super Crocs and Monster Wings: Modern Animals' Ancient Past




Spiked Scorpions and Walking Whales: Modern Animals, Ancient Animals, and Water

Evolution

Evolution: How We and All Living Things Came to Be
by Daniel Loxton


Clear, straight-forward explanations helpfully describe the process of evolution in this good introductory book. It answers many of the common questions people have about evolution - what it is, how change happens, and what it means for humans. Attractive pictures and real world examples make the book easily understandable for young readers.






It's True! We Came from Slime
by Ken McNamara
pictures by Andrew Plant


Beginning with primordial ooze, McNamara presents basic paleontology and the development of life on Earth in this somewhat playful book. The many jokes and funny pictures may distract some readers and get in the way of the pertinent information. Some explanations are a bit unclear, such as McNamara's suggestion for viewing evolution as a time line seen as the distance between a reader's nose and an outstretched arm. The book is not really suitable for writing research reports, but independent readers should find it amusing.

Fascinating creatures

Creatures Great and Small
by Karen Patkau


Patkau's bold, computer-generated art successfully captures extremely large creatures, such as the Blue Whale, African Elephant, and Japanese Spider Crab, to extremely small ones, such as the garden snail, thimble jellyfish, and feather-winged beetle, in this informative picture book.

Handy charts at the back of the book introduce the concepts of scale and proportion by comparing measurements of animals that are “Big” and “Really Big” to “Small” and “Really Small” 

Captivating.

Creatures Yesterday and Today
by Karen Patkau


Living animals and their prehistoric ancestors come to life in this companion book to Creatures Great and Small. Some of the fascinating creatures are the Brontoscorpio and Fat-Tailed Scorpion, the Phorusrhacos and Bird of Paradise, and the Meganeura and Scarlet Skimmer.

The helpful geological timeline at the end of the book makes it a good addition to any reference library.

Managing ADHD

Putting on the Brakes: Young People's Guide to Understanding Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
by Patricia O. Quinn and Judith M. Stern



This book provides clear information about ADHD - what it is, how it's diagnosed, and how the ADHD brain works. The tone is straightforward and very reassuring. The authors do a good job of acknowledging the feelings of ADHD children, and provide helpful, supportive advice. The book also has a good chapter on the kinds of ADHD medications and how they work. The book ends with tips on time management and schoolwork. 

Good for ages 8-13. 

Coping with ADD

It's a challenge for kids living with ADD or ADHD.  The following two books offer helpful advice that can be used at home and at school. Children can learn how to pay better attention, deal with homework, master relaxation techniques, control their emotions, and keep friends. The second book also includes information about medications and diet. Both books can be shared with parents and teachers.




Learning to Slow Down & Pay Attention: A Book for Kids about ADD
by Kathleen G. Nadeau and Ellen B. Dixon


A useful book for kids who want to control their ADHD behaviors. Tips for problem solving and controlling anger are presented in short bulleted lists that are easy to follow. The friendly cartoons keep the tone positive and upbeat. Charts and activity pages are fun and helpful. 

A very good book for ages 5-8.





The Survival Guide for Kids with ADD or ADHD
by John F. Taylor


Taylor offers lots of advice for kids who are faced with ADHD challenges. Each chapter begins with quotes from real kids, which reassures readers that they are not alone. There are some very useful tools that kids will find valuable, like KITE (to identify behavioral choices and choose the right one) and LEAP (to learn from mistakes). Easy quizzes and mini-scenarios keep the tone light and friendly. 

For ages 8-12.

Attention Deficit Disorder

all dogs have ADHD
by Kathy Hoopman


Charming and insightful, this book is a creative way to tell readers what ADHD is all about. By using dogs to illustrate the various aspects of ADHD, it does a good job of fostering understanding and encouragement.

Sir Isaac Newton

Isaac Newton and Physics for Kids: His Life and Ideas with 21 Activities
by Kerrie Logan Hollihan



When it comes to physicists, the names that most often come to mind are Isaac Newton, Albert Einstein, and Marie Curie. Newton is especially honored for his work in astronomy, optics, gravity, mathematics, and chemistry. This detailed and thorough biography traces Newton's life from his boyhood in Woolsthorpe to his death in London. Much attention is given to his studies at Cambridge University and his relationships with such well-known personages like Robert Hooke, Samuel Pepys, and John Locke. Along the way, readers will be enveloped in 17th century England, with all its political and religious turmoil.

History buffs should find the book interesting. Others, especially those not interested in psychology and business matters, may find it a bit of a slog. Although the book is marketed for ages 9 and up, the language is geared more to ages 12 and up. However, the activities are interesting, allowing kids to test some of Newton's theories. A few are not physics-related, but they are quite creative. Activities include: making pendulums, growing crystals, testing Newton's laws of motion, making a plague mask, or creating clues in a portrait.

Physics in everyday life

The Great Motion Mission: A Surprising Story of Physics in Everyday Life
by Cora Lee
illustrated by Steve Rolston


A boy named Jeremy tells what happens when his city's summer fair grounds are threatened with the building of a physics research centre. Jeremy is upset, but not as much as his Uncle Liam, who is extremely physics-phobic. He gets Jeremy to help him save the fair. But their plans are foiled by Audrey, a physics-lover who lives next door. 

Audrey shows everyone how physics can be applied to everyday life, such as throwing a baseball, verifying a painting's authenticity, or riding a rollercoaster. Unfortunately, Audrey speaks like a professor, making her lectures a bit hard to follow.

Supplementary information is contained in sidebars; the book also has short profiles of a few well-known physicists like Isaac Newton, Marie Curie, and Stephen Hawking. 

Easy physics

What's Physics All About?

by Kate Davies

illustrated by Adam Larkum


An excellent, easy-to-understand book that makes physics relevant to the real world. With simple language, informative pictures, and non-threatening formulas, the book guides readers from the beginning of the universe to the study of forces and motion, from the different kinds of energy to an explanation of electricity and astrophysics. It clearly demonstrates what physicists do and how physics helps to explain the world's mysteries. 

A useful book for any student who's ever wondered why the study of physics is necessary. Adult readers will enjoy it too.

Canadian Top Gun

Day of the Flying Fox: The True Story of World War II Pilot Charley Fox
by Steve Pitt


A book packed with information about Charley Fox's experiences from raw recruit to flight instructor to decorated combat pilot. Pitt also covers the history of World War II - how it began, the key personalities in command, and the military strategies employed by the Allies and the Germans. Plane enthusiasts will be interested in the detailed specs about a multitude of fighter jets (photos included), while those passionate about flying will marvel at the skills needed for evading and shooting down enemy planes and bombing trains and vehicles.

Dreams come true for female pilot

Sky High: The True Story of Maggie Gee
by Marissa Moss
illustrated by Carl Angel


Every Sunday afternoon, Maggie Gee's family would drive to the airport to watch the planes take off. Maggie idolized Amelia Earhart and wanted to be a pilot like her. Maggie's parents weren't exactly encouraging. They preferred to tell stories about their own lives, which were truer than her not-yet-true dreams. 

Maggie Gee went on to become one of only two Chinese-Americans who served with the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) during World War II. Told in first-person perspective, the book ably captures the joy of flight and Gee's desire to craft her own story. 

Decorated war pilot

Desert Hawk

by Barbara Hehner

Saskatchewan farm boy Jim Edwards joined the RCAF right after high school. Jim’s skills as a pilot were soon evident. He rose quickly in the ranks until, at just 20 years old, he was leading the 260 Squadron over more senior officers. Edwards racked up victories in North Africa, Italy, France and Germany, becoming a decorated wing commander by war’s end. In December 2004, he was made a member of the Order of Canada.

An easy, quick read, this book will appeal to anyone interested in combat flying.